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Long Time, No……

Whoa! I can’t believe it’s been two+ months since my last post! So much has happened since then: many of the candidates I voted for ended up winning the Philadelphia primaries; I taught my first workshop on service learning, Spring bloomed (kinda) then gave way to summer, and most importantly: The Black Panther teaser dropped (ahhhhhhhh!!!). I blame work-life balance (and admittedly not taking the time to write). Although I’ve taken up some new initiatives, work has been pretty steady, which I’m grateful for. In a surprising twist on all conventional experience, It’s actually LIFE that’s been kicking my ass. I even have the nerve to be trying to read for 45 min – 1 hour a day! Who has that kinda time?……

On ServiceLife has been consumed with a lot of service and civic commitments, as I try to keep up and even ramp up some of my volunteer engagements. I had to seriously reassess my commitments, making sure I am using my time to serve on issues that are most important to me AND that I can sustain for a long time. There are several areas that really float my fancy: Education and Mentorship; Health & Fitness for a Cause; Politics (new for 2017) and Advocacy. I’m trying really hard not to overextend myself and sign up for a bunch of things are not related to that of those categories, or sign up for too much stuff in general, thus diluting my ability to effectively serve. Stay tuned for a bit more about the organizations I’m working with now.

On Healthy EatingIt’s been a roller coaster ride here! Some days, I’m eating so many veggies my intestines are telling me to back off the damn fiber. Other days, the pancreas is screaming at me to back off the damn sugar. Let’s just say my pancreas has been cussing me out more lately. I can’t help but eat the jolly ranchers by the admin desk at work. Plus Summer equals ice cream (did you guys know that Ben and Jerry’s makes ice cream cakes?!!!) and outdoor drinks! Luckily it also means the return of green smoothies and many delicious salads. I’m also trying to cutback on all the red meat and pork I consumed in copious amounts this winter and spring. So…more veggies, more fruit, more whole grains, nuts, fish, all the good stuff.

On FitnessOy vey……not good. No excuses here, just pure laziness. And I have been feeling it! Once I started seeing some weight gain in my mid-section, I knew it was a wrap. My husband and I signed up to run 10k in August….yep, hot ass 200% humidity August. I’d like to say that I’m doing my very first race ever for fun or to establish a base 10k time or whatever, but let’s be real – I’d also prefer to drop a few pounds in preparation for a beach trip later that month. We also now have a Peloton bike, fun stuff.

On A Happy ServingObviously I’m not doing a very good job of keeping up my writing, but I am committed to this space and to you (my 4 readers, one of whom is my husband, lol). Getting a post on here at least once a week, and updating the workout log is of paramount importance to me. There are also new features that I want to highlight, including showcasing awesome women who are serving their community in different ways while balancing work, life, and health. So stay tuned please!

I Don’t Know How To Explain To You That You Should Care About Other People. This one hit me right in the gut as it really puts words to a sentiment I’ve been struggling with for years. The lack of sympathy that I sometime sense in others gives my such a profound sadness. It made me think of one of my favorite Bible verses (let’s be real, I only know two Bible verses, if that ): “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?— Isaiah 10:1-3”

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond and this companion piece. Read these for June book club; this one is gut wrenching y’all. It focuses on housing and definitely underscores the need to have a real conversation about poverty in this country…it seems like more and more we refuse to address this in a real way. Read this one for your next book club meeting.

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Hi, I’m Estelle! Welcome to my little space, where I serve up a glimpse into my life in the city of Brotherly Love. Everyday, I try to create a better version of myself and a better world for others by: eating well, moving my body, working in service of educational equity, staying civically engaged. You can find me at ahappyserving@gmail.com.

Civic Engagement

"Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes."

"Civic engagement encompasses actions wherein individuals participate in activities of personal and public concern that are both individually life enriching and socially beneficial to
the community."

(Excerpts from Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich, published by Oryx Press, 2000.)

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Disclaimer

I am not a physician, registered dietician, or other health professional. My blog is simply a documentation of my life. The views I express are mine alone, based on my own experiences, and should not be taken as medical advice.